SYSTEM-GENERATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROFILES

• US 20090125910A1
• Filed: 11/09/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Lazarus, Lewis J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,271,988 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/104
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5011 the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals

Abstract

A method for computer control of collaborating devices enables automatic generation of resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device. The method includes utilization of a graphical user interface to select an initial resource management profile and instruct the device to automatically generate a resource profile. Timing is specified for creation of the automatically generated optimized resource profile. The optimized resource profile is developed from statistics maintained, collected, and interpreted about the demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device. An operator may elect to automatically invoke the most recently generated optimized profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness or to invoke it upon an instruction from the operator. The optimized resource profile may be saved for future use or discarded.

Claims

1. A method for computer control of collaborating devices in a networked environment to enable an operator to access a resource management graphical user interface to instruct at least one collaborating device to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device, the method comprising:

navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

selecting at least one resource management profile, wherein said profile comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising at least one default resource profile delivered with the collaborating device, at least one existing resource profile, and at least one new profile, wherein said profile includes collaborating device resource allocation settings associated with specific tasks;

instructing the collaborating device to automatically generate at least one resource profile through activation of a feature on said graphical user interface;

specifying timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource profile;

determining whether to invoke the most recent generated profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness;

maintaining statistics about the demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device;

collecting and interpreting said statistics, wherein said statistics are used to create an optimized resource profile;

instructing the collaborating device to apply said optimized resource profile to a job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to perform said job using said optimized resource profile; and

determining whether to save or discard said optimized resource profile.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the collaborating device comprises a printing system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said resource management profile is selected from a drop down list.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said new profile is created by the operator through adjustment of resource utilization, wherein said utilization may be expressed as percentages or through a weighting scheme.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein expression of said utilization is accomplished through the use of at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating said feature is accomplished by use of at least one member selected from the group comprising highlighting an option, selecting an icon, selecting a button, and selecting an item from a drop down menu.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource profile includes at least one member selected from the group comprising expiration of a time period, in response to an operator'"'"'s request, and at the completion of at least one job.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said time period is specified by the operator or by the collaborating device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said time period specified by the operator is accomplished through at least one member selected from the group comprising check boxes, spin boxes, drop downs, and type-in fields.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator specifies an amount of time that must pass before said most recent generated profile is invoked.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said optimized resource profile may be applied automatically by the collaborating device, after a specified period of collaborating device idleness, or at the instruction of the operator.

12. A system for computer control of collaborating devices in a networked environment, wherein the system includes a resource management graphical user interface that causes the computer to perform method steps for controlling at least one collaborating device to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the collaborating device when the graphical user interface is accessed and utilized by an operator, the system comprising:

means for navigating to the resource management graphical user interface;

means for selecting at least one resource management profile, wherein said profile comprises at least one member selected from the group comprising at least one default resource profile delivered with the collaborating device, at least one existing resource profile, and at least one new profile, wherein said profile includes collaborating device resource allocation settings associated with specific tasks;

means for instructing the collaborating device to automatically generate at least one resource profile through activation of a feature on said graphical user interface;

means for specifying timing for the collaborating device to provide said automatically generated resource profile;

means for determining whether to invoke the most recent generated profile after a specified period of collaborating device idleness;

means for maintaining statistics about the demand for resources within each component of the collaborating device;

means for collecting and interpreting said statistics, wherein said statistics are used to create an optimized resource profile;

means for instructing the collaborating device to apply said optimized resource profile to a job, wherein said instruction causes said collaborating device to perform said print job using said optimized resource profile; and

means for determining whether to save or discard said optimized resource profile.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said collaborating device comprises a printing system.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said resource management profile is selected from a drop down list.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein said new profile is created by the operator through adjustment of resource utilization, wherein said utilization may be expressed as percentages or through a weighting scheme.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein expression of said utilization is accomplished through the use of at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein activating said feature is accomplished by use of at least one member selected from the group comprising highlighting an option, selecting an icon, selecting a button, and selecting an item from a drop down menu.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein said timing for the printing system to provide said automatically generated resource profile includes at least one member selected from the group comprising expiration of a time period, in response to an operator'"'"'s request, and at the completion of at least one print job.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said time period is specified by the operator or by the print system.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said time period specified by the operator is accomplished through at least one member selected from the group comprising check boxes, spin boxes, drop downs, and type-in fields.

21. The system according to claim 12, wherein the operator specifies an amount of time that must pass before said most recent generated profile is invoked.

22. The system according to claim 12, wherein said optimized resource profile may be applied automatically by the print system, after a specified period of print system idleness, or at the instruction of the operator.

23. A resource management graphical user interface included in a computer-controlled printing system causes the computer to perform method steps for controlling the printing system to automatically generate resource management profiles to coordinate resource allocation within the printing system when the graphical user interface is accessed and utilized by an operator, the method comprising:

displaying at least one current resource management profile, wherein said resource management profile comprises printing system resource allocations associated with specific jobs;

providing a resource profile list, wherein said profile list includes at least one profile name, wherein said profile name identifies a job type;

presenting features associated with said job type, wherein controls are provided to enable the operator to set allocations for resource usage;

providing an option to instruct the printing system to generate at least one resource profile automatically;

providing an option to instruct the printing system to apply said generated resource profile automatically;

presenting operational options to the operator, wherein said operational options include at least one member of the group comprising delete a profile, approve a profile, apply a profile to a print job, save a new profile, replace an existing profile, and cancel a profile modification; and

transmitting said instruction to apply said profile to a printing system for processing of at least one print job.

24. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, wherein said job types comprise page description language job types.

25. The graphical user interface according to claim 23, wherein said controls enabling the operator to set allocations for resource usage include at least one member selected from the group comprising slider controls, dials, radio buttons, spin boxes, arrows, and resizable boxes.